Plas Bagaln or Baglan Castle

 

Iestyn ap Gwrgan, or Iestyn son of Gwrgan was the ruler of Morgannwg, now known as Glamorgan when the Normans invaded in 1090. He was the last independent Lord or Prince of Morgannwg. He rose to power between 1080 and 1090. He is documented as a minor signatory on a grant of land in Edlygion, given by 'Caratocus Rex Morcannuc' or Caradog ap Gruffydd, to Bishop Herwald in 1080 but by xxxxxxx he was the leader of a significant war band that invaded the sanctity of Llandaf, penance for which cost him a manor in Ely, which he had to gift to Herwald .

 

 

Baglan Castle was a Welsh Masonry castle. It is documented as being in existence in the 13th Century and was possibly founded in 12th Century as a defensive base against the Insurgent Normans.  Alternatively, it could have been founded by Caradog ap Iestyn ap Gwrgan, (fl 1130) his son, who was made the first Lord of Nedd Afan under Norman overlordship of Robert Fitzhamon. He was given land between the Nedd and Afan (and possibly more) as a subordinate holiday. Unlike his father and later his son, Caradog was conciliatory towards the invaders.

 

The site of the castle is described as 300m east of the old Bagaln Church. (1)

 

There were 2 other castles in the area, Aberafan Castle, 2.3 kM south east of Bagaln and Castell  Bolan. Aberafan Castle was destroyed by The Lord Rhys, from Dinefwr Castle in Llandeilo destroyed Aberafan Castle in 1152/3 during one of the Welsh rebellions against the invading French. It therefore seems likely that Aberafan Castle was of Norman origin. "May 1152, Maredudd and Rhys sons of Gruffudd jointly attacked the castle of Aberafn and after killing the garrison and burning the castle they brought from there immense spoil and innumerable riches."(2)

 

The fact that Baglan Castle was built so close to Baglan Church suggests that it and not Castell Bolan was the main capital or strong hold of the Lords of Afan. (1)

 

Caradog was succeeded by his son Lleison and on his death around 1213 by Morgan a younger son, known both as Morgan ap Caradog and Morgan Gam. (Gam possibly being the root of the Welsh 'Grammy' meaning defective, so Morgan may have had a limp, a squint or the like?) Morgan's mother, Gwenllian, may have been the daughter of Ifor Bach, a renowned Welsh freedom fighter after whom a pub in Cardiff is named. Morgan he is recorded as "a Lord, of the Welsh barony of Avan Wallia, died 1241 and is buried in Margam. (3)

 

He reverted to the policy of supporting an alliance with the Welsh Princes rather than the Normans. He served Llewelyn the Great - Llewelyn ap Iorwerth by harassing the Clara Lords of Glamorgan.

 

Giraldus Cambrensis or Gerald of Wales, reported a visited to Afan by Archbishop Baldwin in 1188. He was escorted across the "quicksands" between the Afan and the Tawe by Morgan ap Caradog.  It does not say how they crossed the Nedd, perhaps it was by boat at what was to become Briton Ferry? 

He married at least twice, Janet merchant (daughter) of Elidyr Ddu and Ellen merchant grown ap Einion and perhaps a third wife called Matilda. He had at least 3 sons, and was succeeded by Morgan Fychan.

 

The Welsh Annals (2) describe another Welsh up raising against the Normans ," the castle that belonged to Morgan Gam near which Herbert Fitzmatthew was slain by the Welsh in 1245". It seems likely that this happened near Bagaln Castle rather than Bolan, as the battle is described as being on a hill, which better fits the environs of Baglan. 

 

Bagelan Castle is mentioned in the extant of 1262 concerning the death of Morgan Fychan.(2)

 

Gwrgan

 

Iestyn. Active 1090

 

 

Caradog. Active 1130

 

Morgan Ap Caradoc b 1125 d1208

Probably leader of Glamorgan uprising in 1183

 

Leiden died c 1213

Morgan Gam Brother d 1241

 

Morgan Fychan  d 1262

 

MORGAN FYCHAN (d. 1288 ), lord of the Welsh barony of Avan Wallia (or Nedd-Afan) in the honour of Glamorgan , son of Morgan Gam (q.v.) . Like his father he was a supporter of the North Wales princes . He may for a time have been deprived of Avan , for in 1282 he is described merely as lord of a half commote in Baglan . His son, LLEISION (d. 1328 ), the first of the family to adopt the surname ‘ de Avene ,’ was certainly lord of Avan , being succeeded there in turn by his son and grandson, John and Thomas de Avene . Sometime after 1350 , Avan passed into the hands of the chief-lord , probably as a result of an exchange of lands effected by Jane , daughter and heiress of Thomas , and wife of William Blount . The younger son of Morgan Fychan , Rhys , who succeeded to his father's lands in Baglan , was, however, the ancestor of several well-known Glamorganshire families including the Mackworth s and the Williams es of Aberpergwm (qq.v.) .

 

 

 

 

 

WILLIAMS family, of Aberpergwm , Vale of Neath . This family was descended from Morgan Fychan (q.v.) , second son of Morgan Gam , who in his early days was connected with the area round Baglan ; poets of distinction (see D. R. Phillips , below) wrote in honour of various members of this family during the Middle Ages. The surname was adopted by the descendants of William ap Jenkin ap Hopkin of Blaen Baglan ; it was his second son, Jenkin William , who first settled at Aberpergwm , c. 1500 . The family produced no particularly noteworthy member until the end of the 18th cent. ; but long before that (certainly not later than 1670 ) it was deriving an income from the coal and ironstone on the estate by leasing the rights to speculators. George Williams , a notable athlete (d. 1796 ), is believed to have been the last of the legitimate line, and it was REES WILLIAMS (d. 1812 ), who is thought to have been his illegitimate son (or perhaps that of his father of the same name), who launched the family on a more distinguished career. He was interested in literature , and in 1802 corresponded with Southey ; but he also maintained the strong Welsh traditions of this family, and the poet Dafydd Nicolas (q.v.) was given a home by him at Aberpergwm for many years. On the industrial side, Rees Williams , in 1810 , after considerable litigation with the contractors, took the coal mines into his own hands. Maria Jane Williams (q.v.) was his daughter. He was succeeded by his eldest son, WILLIAM WILLIAMS , b. 7 Dec. 1788 , d. 27 March 1855 . He was a man of considerable culture, a great traveller, and a patron of Welsh writers . Another member of the family who was ‘a man of his own people’ was his son, REES WILLIAMS , who d. 9 Nov. 1863 ; his burial service was conducted in Welsh , and memorial services were held in every chapel in the neighbourhood — the Baptist minister , T. E. James (q.v.) , published a sermon on the occasion, together with an elegy. His successor was his brother, MORGAN WILLIAMS , b. 1846 , d. 13 Dec. 1909 . He bought S. Donats castle ; but after the 1914-18 war both the castle and the coal mines were sold.

 

 

 

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Llyfr Baglan or the Book of Baglan

Llyfr Baglan by John Williams written between 1600 and 1606, records some very important genealogies.